Adding a PCI-X Firewire card

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Adding a PCI-X Firewire card

I have some fairly basic questions. External drives plugged into my powered FW hub sometimes show up and sometimes drop off. Apple tells me I'm probably underpowering the devices and I should get a PCI-X Firewire/1394 card and install it, giving me an additional 3 FW ports on the back of my Mac Pro.

So my questions are: Will this likely solve my problem? Can I add more than one card if I need more FW ports? Is there an equivalent card for USB ports? What's involved in installing a card (I've installed RAM, but nothing else)?

I suspect most of the people on this list are more tech savvy than I am, so please feel free to explain in little baby English words that I might actually understand. Thanks...

macpro, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Dec 20, 2007 9:12 AM

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Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Dec 20, 2007 10:03 AM in response to dougle

You need PCI Express, not PCI-X.
I never would use bus-powered disk drive.

PCIe USB/FW or FW800 add a couple ports.

For disk drives, eSATA is often preferable.

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Answer 2

Dec 20, 2007 10:08 AM in response to dougle

I don't know if this will help, but I myself had problems with firewire devices and started looking into PCI-X cards. First of all, I had a hard time trying to hunt one down. Not many people seem to be making PCI-X cards yet. I decided to upgrade my hub... and have not had a problem since. I currently have a firewire HD, an iSight, an old iPod (firewire), a flash card reader, and 2 USB HD plugged into my IO Gear hub (Link below). They also have a USB only version of the same hub.

http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GUH420

If you do find a PCI-X card, first, let me know. Second, it should be fairly easy to install. I've done it a few times, and although not as easy as RAM (the riser cards come right out of the Mac Pro), it is easy.

Hope that helps.

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Dec 20, 2007 10:23 AM in response to Philip Buchanan

PCI-X is only of use in G5 systems.

If you have a Mac Pro, it doesn't support one. You NEED PCI Express.

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Answer 4

Dec 20, 2007 10:27 AM in response to The hatter

Well thats definitely good to know... I guess I can't trust the people at my local Apple store who told me I would need a PCI-X card.

Remind me to always check here before buying ANYTHING for my mac.

Thanks hatter.

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